Thank you for your continued support.

Standard disclaimer.

The end is near, just four or five more chapters.

Mercedes hadn't been lying, when she'd told Sam, she was hesitant to start working for him, because, she was worried about her mother being alone.

But she and her father discussed it, and her mother had been getting around just fine on her own.

They made her solemnly promise, she wouldn't climb any ladders or do anything foolish.

And she did.

She promised she would only do normal things and said she'd learned her lesson the hard way.

And if she felt uncomfortable about being alone, she'd call either her or Mr. Jones right away.

That suited Mercedes just fine, so, following a weekend of holiday decorating at the house and a little holiday shopping, she reported for work Monday morning at Sam's shop in Hope.

Admittedly, she was nervous, though, she couldn't pinpoint why.

She'd started plenty of new jobs, always with anticipation and excitement. This should be no different, right?

Then again, there'd been Thanksgiving, and that kiss. She'd wanted so much more. More of that kiss, more alone time with Sam.

But she was confused.

Dormant feelings were continuously rising, starting the day she returned to Hope...the day she had seen Sam for the first time in years.

Not that she had any more clarity today, than she'd had last week, but she was perplexed about her feelings right now, so some space had been necessary.

At least, that's what she told herself.

Mercedes waited outside Sam's office, while he met with an employee.

She fidgeted with the hem of her button-down shirt, then found herself playing with the rings on her fingers, and doing a close examination of her fingernail polish.

Finally, disgusted with herself, she took out her phone to play a word game, to pass the time, until Sam's office door opened.

"Sorry for the delay, Mercedes," Sam said.

She stood and grabbed her purse.

"Not a problem."

'Time to put on my work face,' she thought.

She entered his office and took a seat, while he closed the door to drown out the sound of engines and power tools.

"You look nice," he said.

"Thanks."

He'd told her to dress casual, so she did.

She looked down at her dark jeans and navy button-down shirt, along with her brown, knee-length high-heeled boots. She'd also added a scarf.

She wasn't too dressy, but she also wasn't so dressed down, that she looked like she could be working in one of the garage bays.

"I have some employment paperwork for you to fill out. I've also cleared out the office next to mine, so you'll have a quiet place to work," Sam said.

Mercedes took a quick glance at her new office. It was small, but more than she'd expected.

"That's great. Thank you," she said.

"There's a laptop in there, and a printer. The system is linked to all four of the shops. Once you fill out your paperwork, I'll walk you through everything and get you acclimated, as far as the systems we use here, to track sales, payroll, human resources, and accounting."

Other than complimenting her appearance, he was all business, and she was thankful for that.

She hadn't had a chance to tell him, she wanted to separate their personal relationship from their professional, and it looked like she wouldn't have to.

Sam handed Mercedes a stack of papers.

"You can take these to your office and fill them out. I'm sure you know the drill. Once you're done, come see me."

"Okay."

The morning passed in a blur of paperwork, meeting the employees, and learning the various operations of Sam's company.

It wasn't a difficult one, but of course, it was still new to her.

Sam did take her out to lunch, but even then, everything remained centered on business.

She asked him a lot of questions, and he gave her pointed, on the mark answers.

They talked about ways to increase efficiency, all the while, having salad and soup.

Then, it was back to work for more of the same.

By the end of the day, she had a fairly decent handle on how to streamline some of the processes, and the answers to a lot more questions, which she'd jotted down in her notes file.

"I'll take you to each of the shops this week. Though the processes are the same, each shop works independently," Sam told Mercedes, as they met up in his office at the end of the day. "Plus, I want you to meet with management at the other shops and all the employees, so they get used to coming to you, instead of me with questions."

"Sounds good. It'll likely take me a week or two, until I'm comfortable enough to answer some of the questions myself. But I'll be happy to field them, just so they get used to coming to me."

He nodded.

"And I'll be doing a lot of redirecting, because, my managers at the other shops...and staff at this one...are used to bringing every problem to me. I want that to change."

"Right. Unless it's a question about which carburetor goes in an '03 Tahoe...because, I don't know the answer to that one. Not off the top of my head, anyway."

"If anyone comes to either of us with that question, they're fired," he said.

She laughed.

"Noted."

Sam picked up his phone and said to Mercedes,

"It's five thirty. Go ahead and take off. I'm sure you'd like to get home and check on your mom."

"I called her several times today and after the fourth phone call, she said I was annoying her," she replied.

He cracked a smile.

"Is that right? That must mean she's doing well on her own."

"I think she's been dying for me to get out of the house, so she can gain back a little of her independence. I can't say I blame her."

"Well, you are a free spirit. So is she. I'm sure you can appreciate how difficult it would be, to have someone watching you like a hawk, tracking your every move."

"I'd hate it and I know she does. In fact, she insisted on making dinner tonight. It's the first time since her accident. I hope she doesn't overdo it."

"I'm sure she won't," he said.

Mercedes stood, her gaze finding Sam's,

"I'm going to head on out. Thanks for a great first day, and for the job. It's actually been really nice to work again."

"You're welcome. Thanks for offering to help out," he replied.

"You have a good company here, Sam. With my help, I hope to make it even better. I can't wait to dig in."

"So I'll...see you tomorrow?" he asked.

"Sure. See you tomorrow."

At home, everything was as normal, as it could be.

Mrs. Jones was excited to put dinner on the table, and seemed to be full of energy.

She told Mercedes and her dad, that she'd wandered around the house, gotten her exercise, and rested when she was tired.

In her words, she hadn't overdone it, and she felt good.

Mercedes was relieved. Her mom had truly made great progress.

After dinner, Mercedes went to her room and went over the notes she'd taken during the day, thinking about some of the upgrades she'd like to make.

She wanted to ask Sam a few questions, but didn't want to call him.

Work time was for work and calling him at night was...something she wouldn't do, if it was work related.

Their relationship was in flux right now, and that was her doing.

That night, a couple of weeks ago, when they'd been snuggling on the sofa, she'd felt comfortable.

A little too comfortable...a little too familiar, which had dragged her back to the past...a place she never liked going.

But the feelings had overwhelmed her.

Because, they hadn't just been feelings from the past...they were the feelings she had now, that had caused her to panic...that had made her pull back from him.

Since then, she'd missed him.

Seeing him today, working with him today, but unable to touch him, kiss him, or do anything about the emotional pull, she always felt when she was around him, somehow, felt unnatural to her.

She knew she had to do it, to maintain a level of professionalism at work, but she didn't have to put him in that, no touch, no contact zone after work.

She picked up the phone, and on impulse, and punched his number.

Sam picked up on the second ring.

"Hey, Mercedes."

"Hi, Sam. What are you doing?"

"Watching some TV."

"What? Not tearing up a room?"

He laughed.

"Nah. A new employee started at work today, and she wore me out. I have nothing left to give to the poor house."

She rolled her eyes.

"I hardly think so."

"So what's up?" he asked.

Now that she'd called him, she didn't have a plan formulated for what she was going to say.

So she was just going to have to go with her gut.

"I was wondering...if you wanted to go do something."

"What? You aren't tired of me?" he asked.

"Shockingly, no."

"That new action movie came out last weekend. It even has romance in it. You wanna go see it?" he asked.

Mercedes relaxed her shoulders, relieved he'd made it so easy on her.

"I'd love to," she replied.

"Hang on a second. Let me check my phone."

She waited.

"There's a showing at nine. Is that too late for you?" he asked.

"No, that works. How about you pick me up about eight thirty?" she asked.

"That'll work. I'll see you then."

Mercedes took a shower, did her hair and makeup, then got dressed and went downstairs.

Her parents were playing a board game at the dining room table, and she smiled, at seeing her mother up and about again.

Her dad looked up from the game.

"You look pretty."

She looked down at her jeans and sweater, happy that he noticed.

"Thanks daddy. I'm going to a movie."

"With Sam?" her mother asked, with the kind of smile, only a woman would give you, when she knew you had a date.

"Yes, Mom. With Sam."

She distracted them both, by talking about the game they were playing, so she didn't have to endure questions about her relationship with Sam.

She'd filled them in over dinner about her workday, but fortunately, they'd left the questions business related, which had suited her just fine.

Technically, she could leave Hope. Her mother was fine, and her dad more than capable of taking care of her now, with Michelle helping out, by looking in on her.

But now, she had a new job, and maybe, she'd give that job a chance.

Which didn't mean she was staying, or that she had any intention of falling in love with Sam all over again.

Though her heart skipped a beat, when she heard him drive up.

She kissed her parents goodbye and went outside, where Sam was waiting for her in the driveway.

As Mercedes slid into the passenger seat of Sam's car, he said,

"I was going to come in and say hi to your parents."

"Not necessary, and we don't want to be late for the movie."

"Okay."

He shifted into reverse, and headed down the driveway.

Mercedes inhaled deeply.

She had no idea what Sam wore...aftershave, maybe, or his soap...but she loved the way he smelled.

All she wanted to do right now, was bury her face in his neck...maybe her tongue, as well.

"Are you all right?" he asked, as he drove down the main highway, towards the movie theater.

"Fine," she said, shifting her gaze to him. "Why?"

"You made a sound. Like a groan. Or a moan."

"Did I?" She pulled her mirror out of her purse and checked her lip gloss, smiling at herself.

They got to the movie theater, bought their tickets and purchased a couple of sodas and some popcorn, then grabbed seats.

Since it was a Monday night in a small town, the theater wasn't crowded, which was perfect.

"I'm glad you called me," Sam said, as they watched previews of upcoming movies.

"I'm glad you suggested a movie. I've actually been looking forward to seeing this one. I've kind of got a thing for Channing Tatum," Mercedes replied.

Sam arched a brow.

"Is that right? Now I'm going to have to watch you closely during the movie."

"For what?" she asked.

"Drool."

She laughed.

"I think I can control myself with Channing, if you can behave yourself around Mila Kunis."

"I'll try my best. No guarantees. Me and Mila go way back. We're like this." He crossed his fingers.

"So...there's another woman," she playfully said.

His lips curved and he put his arm around her.

"No one but you, baby."

His words made her tingle. They shouldn't, but they did. 'There goes those feeling again...confusing the heck out of me,' she thought.

The movie started, and Mercedes settled in to enjoy the action.

But she couldn't help but be distracted by the fact, that this was the first movie they'd been to together, since they were teenagers.

Back then, they'd hide in the back, hold hands, and steal kisses.

Now, they sat in the middle for a good view, and once they'd finished their popcorn, Sam grasped her hand.

'Some things changed. Some didn't,' she thought, but she was quite satisfied with that.

The movie was great...action filled, lots of tension and nail-biting scenes, where Mercedes clenched Sam's hand, hoping the characters would come out of it alive.

For a while, she wasn't certain, but near the end of the movie, she released her breath, as the characters made their escape.

And the romance at the end was swoon-worthy, with the hero making such a huge gesture to the heroine. The heroine kicked butt as well.

This was definitely her type of movie. She was pumped and excited as the lights came up.

"What did you think?" she asked Sam, as they stood and excited the theater.

"It was good."

"That's it? Just good?" she asked.

He shrugged, as he tossed the empty popcorn bucket and drink cup in the trash.

"Yeah. Good."

She shook her head.

"I thought it was fantastic. That scene when they were dangling out of the helicopter...oh, my God. My heart was in my throat the entire time. And when she had to shoot right over his head...if he hadn't ducked a quarter of an inch, she would have grazed him. It was like they had telepathy."

"Uh-huh. Yeah, that part was good."

She slid into the car.

"Good. Is that all you're going to say about the movie, Sam Evans?"

"I'll leave the superlatives to the critics," he said.

"You're no fun to go to the movies with. Next time I'm going with Michelle, Jackie, and Cassidy."

Sam turned to her.

"I like action movies. They hold my interest. But I'm not much for dissecting."

Now she remembered this about him.

She'd come out of the movie theater, having loved or hated a film and wanting to spend the next half hour discussing it, while he either said he liked it, or didn't like it, and that was the end of it.

She remembered it drove her crazy.

She found it so disappointing, but she couldn't change that about him.

At least he'd held her hand.

When he drove her home, she was even more disappointed.

"What? No hot sex at your place?" she asked.

"Sorry, Miss Jones, but it's a school night. And it's already late."

She laughed.

"I can't believe you're giving me a curfew."

"This is what happens when you're dating the boss. I have a big day planned for you tomorrow, and you need your sleep."

She unbuckled her seat belt and grabbed the door handle.

"You are no fun, Mr. Evans."

"Wanna bet?" he asked.

He grasped her arm and tugged her towards him. And before she knew it, he'd hauled her onto his lap.

Immediately, his hands were in her hair...all over her actually, as he took her mouth in a smoking-hot kiss, that left no doubt, he was as reluctant to let her go, as she was to be let go.

It was like being struck by lightning, this feeling she got whenever he kissed her.

He had been the first boy to give her this feeling, and no boy, or man, since, had ever made her feel the same way.

When Sam released Mercedes, she lifted away only a few inches, both of them breathing hard.

"You sure about that smoking-hot sex thing?" she asked.

He rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip.

"Am I sure? Hell no. I think you can feel that. But if I take you home with me, Mercedes, neither of us will get any sleep tonight."

'Damn! Mental visuals of that are gonna keep me up tonight,' she thought.

"All right," she replied.

She climbed off of him and grabbed her purse, then looked over at him and his delicious erection.

"Last chance," she said.

He cocked his head to the side.

"Don't tempt me."

Clearly, he was the only one practicing restraint tonight, because, she had none.

"Fine. I'll see you tomorrow," she said, with the cutest pout on her lips.

"Good night, Mercedes."

She got out of the car and watched him drive away.

She could deny a lot of things, about what was going on between her and Sam.

But the chemistry between them? That was undeniable.

She took a deep, shuddering breath, then walked into the house.

Sam pulled into the garage, parked Rhonda, then got out, straightening his jeans as he did.

His erection still hadn't gone away and it was goddamned uncomfortable.

He had no idea why he'd decided to play the martyr tonight and take Mercedes home.

She'd looked gorgeous in skintight jeans, that showcased her fine ass. Her lips had been glossed and kissable, and all he'd thought about during the movie, was putting his hands and mouth on her.

Instead, he'd taken her home. And then, he'd hauled her onto his lap and kissed the hell out of her, making both of them hot and uncomfortable.

What kind of a glutton for punishment did that make him?

Now, he was going to be hard all night, and no doubt, lie awake and think about how she could have been in his bed, and the two of them could have gotten the release they both wanted.

Sam threw his keys on the kitchen counter and grabbed a beer, popped it open and downed a few quick swallows, hoping it would cool his libido.

He took a seat in the living room and turned on the television, flipping through channels as he drank his beer.

By the time he'd emptied the can, he realized he was still thinking about Mercedes, and still wished she was here with him.

She'd be naked...and so would he...and he could be tasting her, touching her, sinking inside her.

'Fuck!'

He got up, crunched the beer can in his hand, and tossed it in the trash.

Since it wasn't likely he was going to be sleeping anytime soon, he might as well do some paperwork, and maybe, spend the next hour or so, mentally cursing himself for being a moron.

The next time he had Mercedes on his lap, ready and willing, he wasn't going to be so stupid and send her home.

Stay safe!